Overhead stowage bin load transfer and balance system

ABSTRACT

An ergonomically improved stowage system includes a supporting structure, a bin having a volume with an opening to receive a load, the bin being movable with respect to the supporting structure from a closed to an open position, and an attaching mechanism for attaching the bin to the structure. The attaching mechanism includes a bin pivot axis that is located in substantial alignment with a center of gravity of the bin in the closed position.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to the field of aircraft cabin stowagesystems, and more particularly to an improved overhead stowage bin andsupporting structure employing relative positioning of pivot points andmoldline of the overhead stowage bin for counter balance to reduce thenecessary closing force.

Accommodation of luggage for passengers on airlines or on other publicconveyances continues to require reconfiguration changes in the interiorcabin arrangements. Due to constraints in passenger terminal time, newsecurity requirements and airline policies regarding checking ofluggage, more carry-on baggage is accompanying passengers onboard in thecabin. Carry on baggage has also increased in size and include morelarge rectangular rigid bags with the introduction of “roll aboard”carry-on baggage. Larger capacity stowage bins have been and continue tobe employed by carriers to accommodate the increase in carry-on baggage.The capacity of overhead stowage bins has increased enough that theforce required to lift and close pivot type bins can be up to 40-60 lbs.Flight attendants are often required to close multiple bins everyflight. Improper lifting of heavy bin loads could lead to costly workrelated injuries. Pivot or translating bin designs typically positionthe bin contents between the supporting pivot or mechanism and the binuser. The load of the bin contents and the bin weight itself is sharedbetween mechanism and the bin user during translation of the bin betweenthe open and closed position. To attempt to alleviate these issues,structural assist mechanisms have been added to help with the bin load.In current examples, the assist is accomplished using mechanical springsor gas springs.

Bins with assist mechanisms may not be intuitive for passengers tooperate. For an empty bin, the assist springs may require force to pulldown and open the bin and the mechanism requires a lock or detentposition to keep the bin open while loading. Passengers are frequentlyunaware of the lock open position. If the passenger does not pull hardenough to engage the lock open mechanism, the bin closes while they lifttheir bag. Extra dampers may also be required to prevent the springassist from slamming empty bins shut when luggage is removed from thebin. The extra springs and dampers add expense, weight and maintenanceto the bin assemblies.

It is therefore desirable to provide a stowage bin that decreases theforces required for operation while remaining simple and intuitive tooperate. Additionally, simplification of the bin to reduce cost, weightand maintenance requirements is desired.

SUMMARY

According to one exemplary embodiment, an ergonomically improved stowagesystem includes a supporting structure, a bin having a volume with anopening to receive a load, the bin being movable with respect to thesupporting structure from a closed to an open position, and an attachingmechanism for attaching the bin to the structure, the attachingmechanism includes a bin pivot axis that is located in substantialalignment with a center of gravity of the bin in the closed position.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a support system for astowage bin includes rotational bearings interconnecting first andsecond walls of a bin to first and second bulkheads of a supportstructure. The bearings being configured to rotate about a pivot axislocated in substantial alignment with a center of gravity of the bin ina closed position. At least one-third of a load volume of the bin isdisposed opposite the pivot axis in an open position.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment, a method for reducingstowage system forces in a stowage system includes providing a mountingstructure, providing a bin with a load carrying volume, a depth of thebin being maximized by having an inboard corner of the bin with aminimized radius to allow an outboard portion of the bin contents tocounter balance an inboard portion, and mounting the bin with pivotpoints forming a pivot axis substantially aligned with a center ofgravity of the loaded bin in a closed position and with acounterbalancing portion of the volume outboard of the pivot point in anopen position.

The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can beachieved independently in various embodiments of the present inventionor may be combined in yet other embodiments further details of which canbe seen with reference to the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a prior art stowage bin configuration inthe closed position in a passenger stowage unit of an aircraft fuselage;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the prior art stowage bin configuration inthe open closed position in the aircraft fuselage;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the prior art stowage bin in the closedposition;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the prior art stowage bin in the openposition;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an exemplary stowage bin embodiment in theclosed position in a passenger stowage unit of an aircraft fuselage;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the exemplary stowage bin embodiment inthe open position in the aircraft fuselage;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the exemplary embodiment of the stowage binin the closed position in the structure of the passenger stowage unit;

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the exemplary embodiment of the stowage binin the open position;

FIG. 9 s a detailed view of the stowage bin without the passengerstowage unit structure and showing an exemplary central latchconfiguration;

FIG. 10 is a graph showing opening and closing forces associated withthe prior art stowage bin and the exemplary embodiment for various loadsand positions; and,

FIG. 11 is a graph showing opening and closing forces associated withthe prior art stowage bin and the exemplary embodiment for specificloads in the open and closed positions;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments described herein demonstrate a stowage bin whichutilizes a pivot positioned near the center of gravity of a loaded bin.The bin shape and bin support geometry are also unique to enable the bincontent center of gravity (CG) to settle and balance closer to the pivotpoint and accept a larger bag. The lower corner of the bin is a smallerradius and the passenger stowage unit (PSU) angle is more horizontal.The mass of the bin contents is therefore positioned on both sides ofthe pivot. The bin contents act as a counter balance to reduce the massthe user must lift to close the overhead bin thereby providingsignificantly improved ergonomics for the bin. The bin is geometry isstrategically arranged so the CG of the bin is above the bin pivot whenthe bin is closed and on the user side slightly offset from the binpivot when the bin is open. This geometry results in a bin that willopen on its own when unlatched and stay open for loading, whiletransferring most or all of the bin and content mass to the bin supportstructure as it is closed.

Prior art stowage bin systems as shown in FIGS. 1-4 employ a geometrywhich creates significant moment about the pivot point in the loaded binresulting in high closure forces. As shown in FIG. 1 for an exemplaryprior art configuration in a passenger cabin in an aircraft fuselage,the passenger stowage unit (PSU) 10 is mounted from or adjacent to thefuselage wall 12, typically over seat rows 14. The closed bin 16, asshown in FIG. 1 and in detail in FIG. 3, with a typical piece of luggage18 loaded within the bin results in a center of gravity 20. The pivotpoint 22 for the bin is arranged to provide a constant radius 24 in thebin shell for clearance from the stowage bin support structure 26 duringrotation to the open position as shown in FIG. 2 and in detail in FIG.4. Approximately three-quarters of the mass of the loaded bin is inboardof the pivot point as shown by the center of gravity location 20relative to the pivot point 22.

As will be discussed in greater detail subsequently with respect toFIGS. 10 and 11, the arrangement of the prior art bin, as demonstratedin the drawings, results in very high loads required to close the binand/or to prevent it from swinging open when unlatched. Further, thelatch mechanisms required to maintain the bin in the closed positionmust be very structurally robust which adds weight and complexity to thebin and PSU structure. As a minimum, latches typically require catchpawls 28 (shown in FIG. 4) at both sides of the bin to restrain it inthe closed position and avoid longitudinal torquing of the bin.

An exemplary embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5-8 which substantiallyreduces forces associated with the opening and closing of a stowage bin.As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 for an exemplary installation in a PSU 30incorporated in the interior of an aircraft fuselage 32 over seatingrows 33, ergonomically improved bin 34 is mounted with mountingmechanism having a pivot point 36 on each side of the bin to create apivot axis 37 (shown for reference in FIG. 8) with the pivot points andpivot axis substantially in vertical alignment with the loaded center ofgravity 38 (as best seen in FIG. 5). The mounting mechanism positionalso allows the moldline or profile of a lower portion 40 of the bin tobe broadened to a trapezoidal or rectangular cross sectional shape toaccept a larger piece of luggage 42 while allowing the bin contentcenter of gravity (CG) to settle and balance more closely in alignmentwith the pivot points and pivot axis. An outboard portion of the bincontents such as the lower half of luggage 42 counter balances theweight of the inboard portion of the bin contents such as the upper halfof luggage 42. A lower corner 44 of the bin employs a small radius whichmay approach linear perpendicularity of the bin front wall and bottomfor the broadened profile of lower portion 40 and the angle of the openbin in the PSU is substantially horizontal as shown in FIG. 6. Employinga lower bin corner that is not concentric to the pivot point(traditional design) and more square enables larger rectangular rollaboard bags and other carry-on bags to stow further in the bin supportwith the bin CG closer to the bin pivot. The mass of the bin andcontents is therefore positioned on both sides of the pivots 36. For theexemplary embodiment at least one-third (⅓) of the volume of the bin andtherefore the carried load is maintained on an opposite side of thepivot axis from the bin opening 45 in the open position. The bincontents act as a counter balance to reduce the force the user mustapply to lift and close the overhead bin. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6,the moment arm 46 of the center of gravity 38 is significantly reducedwhile as shown in FIG. 5, the center of gravity is in alignment with thepivot points and pivot axis resulting in an evenly balanced bin in theclosed position.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8, bin 34 is supported by a structuralshell 48 having first or fore and second or aft bulkheads 49. The smallradius of the lower corner 44 allows a substantially flat profile for afront wall 50 of the bin with only a slight curvature for aestheticappearance in the embodiment shown. Positioning of a rotating bearingmechanism 52 for attachment of bin first or fore and second or aft walls51 at pivot point 36 accommodates a lip 53 in the stowage supportstructure allowing a constant clearance gap for the bin front wall 50 inboth the open and closed position of the bin without requiring a largeradius in the bin profile for rotating clearance between the open andclosed position as in the prior art. The bin is geometry isstrategically arranged so the CG of the bin is above and substantiallyvertically aligned with the bin pivot when the bin is closed withapproximately fifty percent (50%) of the bin and contents on either sideof the bin pivot. When the bin is open the bin CG is slightly offset andon the user side of the pivot axis such that approximately thirty-threepercent (33%) of the mass is on the far side and sixty-six percent (66%)on the near side of the rotation point. This geometry results in a binthat will open on its own when unlatched and stay open for loading,while transferring most or all of the bin and content mass to the binsupport structure as it is closed. The embodiment shown allows a simplepneumatic strut 54 or other mechanical damper to be connected between aboss 56 on the bin and a boss 58 on in the structural shell 48 of thePSU to provide rate control as the bin rotates to the open position.

As shown in detail in FIG. 9 for the exemplary embodiment, the bin 34may have a substantially trapezoidal shaped cross section faired by thecurvature of the lower inboard corner 44. Filleting or chamfering of thecorners or bowing of the bottom surface as shown in the drawings may beaccomplished to encourage load centering or provide corner clearanceduring rotation of the bin while allowing maximum internal volumeapproaching a rectangular cross section. The significantly reducedforces in the closed position of the bin, even at maximum loading,allows a simple single latch mechanism 60 located substantially centeredlongitudinally on the bin to be affixed to the interior of the frontwall 50 with activation through a finger pull 62 (best seen in FIG. 7)or comparable push button arrangement. For exemplary configurations foruse in aircraft, positioning of the rotating bearing mechanism and thusthe pivot axis between approximately twenty and twenty-five percent (20%and 25%) of the width 64 of the bin and between approximately thirty andthirty-five percent (30 and 35%) of the height 66 of the binsubstantially achieves the desired weight distribution in the bin forthe relative CG and pivot point locations providing substantial verticalalignment in the closed position within a nominal ±5°. These rangesachieve desired moment arms and rotation angles consistent withpassenger stowage unit configurations in both narrow and wide bodyaircraft to minimize load at the closure point. Within the constraintsof aircraft interior configuration, a pivot axis location which achievesa zero load condition at the closure point is desired.

The reduced forces for operating the stowage bin as described in theexemplary embodiments are demonstrated empirically in FIGS. 10 and 11.FIG. 10 shows a graph of force required to rotate the bin at the fullyopen position as a function of bin load and force required to rotate thebin at substantially the closed position immediately prior to latchingor after unlatching (closing position). For a prior art storage bin,traces 70 and 72 demonstrate the force required to rotate the bin at theopen position and closing position respectively. Exemplary data for thevalues charted include 14 lbs of empty bin weight with a maximum load of113 lbs (127 lbs total weight). For an empty bin (zero load) the binweight itself requires approximately 6 lbs of force at the open positionand 4 lbs force at the closing position. With the bin at half load, 28lbs of force is required at the open position and 18 lbs is required atthe closing position. At full load, 51 lbs is required at the openposition and 33 lbs is required at the closing position. The comparableloadings for the exemplary embodiments employing the balanced pivotplacement are shown in traces 74 and 76. With the bin empty, the forcerequired for rotation at the open position is 4 lbs while at the closedposition load is evenly balanced and force required is zero. Under halfload conditions, the force required in the open position increases to 20lbs while the force at the closing position remains at zero. Finally atthe full load, the force required at the open position is 36 lbs(reduced from 51 lbs in the prior art) and still remains at zero for theclosing position (reduced from 33 lbs in the prior art).

FIG. 11 presents the same data arranged with open position and closingposition adjacent to one another for the various load conditions todemonstrate the actual force scenario that would be encountered by auser for various loading of the bin. Trace 78 demonstrates the prior artforce requirements while trace 80 presents the force requirements forthe exemplary embodiments. While the exemplary embodiments have beendescribed herein with respect to implementation in an aircraft, theembodiments are equally applicable to usage in trains, busses, ferriesor other forms of public or private conveyance.

The design of the exemplary embodiments provides a stowage system withreduction in force requirements by mounting the bin within the stowagesupport structure placing the pivot point slightly offset andsubstantially in vertical alignment with the fully loaded center ofgravity for the bin in the closed position and maximizing the depth ofthe bin relative to the center of gravity by minimizing the radius ofthe inboard bottom corner of the bin thereby allowing the outboardportion of the bin contents to counter balance the inboard portion ofthe bin contents with respect to the pivot axis in the open positionthereby reducing the moment arm of the center of gravity and associatedforces for closing the bin.

Having now described various embodiments of the invention in detail,those skilled in the art will recognize modifications and substitutionsto the specific embodiments disclosed herein. Such modifications arewithin the scope and intent of the present invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

1. An ergonomically improved stowage system, comprising: a supportstructure; a bin having a volume with an opening to receive a load, thebin being movable with respect to the supporting structure from a closedto an open position; and an attaching mechanism for attaching the bin tothe structure, the attaching mechanism including a bin pivot axis thatis located in substantial alignment with and below a center of gravityof the bin in the closed position and the center of gravity between thebin opening and the pivot axis in an open position.
 2. The stowagesystem of claim 1 wherein the bin has one of a substantia rectangularcross section and a substantially trapezoidal cross section.
 3. Thestowage system of claim 1 wherein the pivot axis is disposed in theattachment mechanism with at least one-third of the bin volume on a sideopposite the pivot axis from the bin opening in the open position. 4.The stowage system of claim 1 further comprising a single latchingmechanism located substantially centered longitudinally on a front wallof the bin.
 5. The stowage system of claim 1 wherein the attachingmechanism includes rotational bearings interconnecting first and secondwalls of the bin to first and second bulkheads respectively of thesupport structure, the bearings being configured to rotate about thepivot axis.
 6. The stowage system of claim 1 wherein the supportstructure comprises a passenger stowage unit in an aircraft cabin. 7.The stowage system of claim 5 wherein the rotational bearings aredisposed at a point that is located between twenty and twenty-fivepercent of the width of the bin.
 8. The stowage system of claim 5wherein the rotational bearings are located at between thirty andthirty-five percent of the height of the bin.
 9. The stowage system ofclaim 1 wherein the stowage system is employed in an aircraft with apassenger stowage unit carrying the support structure; the bin has asubstantially rectangular cross section; and, the attaching mechanismcomprises rotational bearings interconnecting first and second walls ofthe bin to first and second bulkheads of the support structure atbetween twenty and twenty-five percent of the width of the bin andbetween thirty and thirty-five percent of the height of the bin, thebearings rotating about the pivot axis and with at least one-third ofthe load volume of the bin opposite the pivot axis from the bin openingin the open position.
 10. The stowage system of claim 9 furthercomprising: a single latching mechanism located substantially centeredlongitudinally on a front wall of the bin.
 11. (Currently amen et hodfor reducing stowage system forces, the method comprising: providing amounting structure; providing a bin with a load carrying volume, a depthof the bin being maximized by having an inboard corner of the bin with aminimized radius to allow an outboard portion of the bin contents tocounter balance an inboard portion; and mounting the bin with pivotpoints forming a pivot axis substantially aligned with and below acenter of gravity of the loaded bin in the closed position and thecenter of gravity between the bin opening and the pivot axis in an openposition providing a counterbalancing portion of the volume opposite thepivot axis in the open position.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein thestep of mounting includes mounting the bin with at least one-third ofthe volume on a far side of the pivot point in the open position. 13.The method of claim 11 wherein the load carrying volume has one of asubstantially rectangular cross section and a substantially trapezoidalcross section.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein the mounting structureis carried by a passenger stowage unit in an aircraft.
 15. The method ofclaim 11 wherein the counterbalancing portion of the volume is at leastone-third of the volume.